Bridge: If a Forcing Bid Is Passed, The Reason Must Be Good

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One of the essentials of a good bridge education is an understanding of which bids are and are not forcing. Good players never pass forcing bids.

Never? Well, hardly ever, as the captain of the Pinafore used to say. There are times to violate the rules, but they are quite rare and there is a risk of damaging partnership confidence.

Consider the diagramed deal played recently in a rubber bridge game in Hobe Sound, Fla. Sitting North and South were Betty Ely and Dr. John Walker. The misfitting North-South hands offer no play for any game, but the partnership was headed in that direction when North, quite reasonably, opened one spade.

After a two-diamond response and a two-heart overcall, the best North-South can do is to double and collect 300 points. But neither player can reasonably be expected to do that. A Danger Signal for South

North should perhaps have passed two hearts, but her partner would have had much the same problem as he did after the actual two-spade bid.

The heart holding was a danger signal, but South nevertheless expected to reach game. His bid of three clubs was the best exploring move at his disposal, since a new suit by responder is forcing in almost all positions, and this is not one of the exceptions.

But North, with good reason, decided to break the rules and pass a forcing bid. Her free rebid of two spades had indicated her six-card suit, she had bid her hand to the hilt, and the heart suit was menacing. So she passed, surprising her partner considerably.

Playing a 3-3 fit at the level of three is not normally an attractive proposition, but the contract proved unbeatable. Any higher contract would no doubt have failed, and there was a danger of being doubled if game was reached. (Three diamonds, even if reachable, would fail with correct play. It is right to play the A-K of trumps and not to finesse.)

West took three heart winners, and made the best move for the defense by shifting to a trump. All this achieved was to save an overtrick, for after winning, South took winners in spades and diamonds and took five trump tricks by cross-ruffing to make his contract.